WATCH: Carlos Acosta on why pointe shoes matter

News & Stories 5 Oct 2026

News Story

Carlos Acosta explains why pointe shoes are so important to ballet dancers and how your support helps provide the shoes they need to perform.

Help keep our dancers on their toes

Swan Lake is one of ballet’s most demanding productions, particularly for the lower legs. Dancers go through countless pairs of pointe shoes during rehearsals and performances, often wearing through a couple of pairs in a single show. Your support helps provide the shoes they need to perform at their best, stay safe and bring this iconic ballet to life.

Donate to the Pointe Shoe Appeal today

Find out more

  1. WATCH: Amelia Thompson performs one of the Act I Courtesan solos from Swan Lake

  2. Swan Lake: the story behind Tchaikovsky's 'undanceable' score

  3. WATCH: Swan Lake from above

  4. Pointe Shoe Appeal: Help us reach our target

  5. 223 Pointes: the pointe shoe swan sculpture inspired by BRB's Swan Lake

  6. WATCH: Black Swan pas de deux from Swan Lake (Act III)

  7. WATCH: dancer Yasemin Kayabay prepares her pointe shoes (ASMR)

  8. WATCH: audiences react to Swan Lake

  9. WATCH: Swan Lake Performance Trailer

  10. Swan Lake: first look

  11. WATCH: Principal Dancer Céline Gittens on the importance of pointe shoes

  12. Behind the pointe shoes: a day with Footwear Supervisor Michael Clifford

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